Twin bed structure



Feb. 4, 1941. J. R. THOMAS TWIN BED STRUCTURE Origihal Filed. Jan.

fave/ZZZ?" Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE Application January 31, 1938, Serial No. 187,803 Renewed February 15, 1940 4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a bed structure in which a pair of beds are connected in such a manner to a common head board that they may be moved from a central position to- 5 gether to a spaced-apart position without disconnecting them from the head board.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a twin bed structure having a common head board and a pivotal mounting m which keeps the beds parallel at all times during their movement.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of improved means for additionally supporting the common head board of a twin 15 bed structure.

Still another object of the invention is in the provision of improved means for adjusting the height of the connection of the individual beds of a twin bed structure in accordance with 2 this invention with respect to a common head board therefor.

Still another object of the invention is in the provision of an improved pivoting, supporting and swinging means for connecting twin 25 beds to a common head board and for keeping each of the beds at right angles to the head board.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the accompanying drawing illus- 30 traiting a preferred embodiment of the invention in which Fig. 1 illustrates a twin bed structure with a single head board and the beds movable relatively thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing the connection between one of the beds and the head board;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view ShOWlng also the head board support;

40 Fig. 4 is a per ective of the pivoted and swinging attachment for connecting one of the beds and the head board; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the head board support.

45 Twin beds as now commonly used consist of two separate and distinct bed structures, or in the class of emergency or day-bed structures, one section is usually covered by another and either one or both sections are pulled out, raised,

50 or otherwise moved to set them apart when used individually for sleeping purposes.

In the present invention a common head board is provided for two separate beds which is preferably of the same width as the two beds 55 when they are placed side by side and close together. In this position they occupy the least space and may be made up to resemble a single bed. When it is desired to use them separately for sleeping, or to move them apart for access between the beds, either one or both of the '5 beds is moved relatively to the other and to the head board by means of a connection with the head board which keeps the beds parallel at all times and permits each bed to be moved separately from a central position to an outer position with respect to the head portion.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a common head board 8 having the usual legs 9 is made of a width to extend across the ends of a pair of beds I!) when they are placed side by side and close together. These beds may be of any desired width but for twin bed purposes they are usually about thirty-six to forty inches in width and are shown with the usual frames II and legs l2.

In order to connect each bed to the head board a double pivoting and hinged structure is shown, comprising a plate l3 adapted to be attached by screws M or other fastening devices to the head board, a plate 15 adapted to be attached to the end of a bed frame, and parallel side links l6 connecting the ends of the plates I3 and I5 by ordinary hinge connections I! at each of the four corners of this hinging and pivoting structure. It is preferred that all of the component parts l3, l5 and I 6 of this structure are of the same length, joined by hinge pins l8 at their ends so that the bed may be easily disconnected from the head board at any time by removing two of the hinge pins, and the bed willalways swing at right angles to the head board and therefore parallel to the other bed regardless of the position of either bed with respect to the other.

By positioning the plate [3 which is attached 0 to the head board at the proper location and making it of the proper length, the two beds will swing together centrally of and against the head board and the end of the bed will cover the hinging and pivoting means in the interposition and in moving the bed outwardly from this central position. to the limiting outermost position the links will swing the bed outwardly, maintaining it at right angles to the head board until the outer link l6 engages the head board, thereby moving the bed against the head board.

In order to assist in holding the head board in upright position and from sliding, additional legs may be provided, or an angle plate 20 may be adjustably set or fastened below the attachan ing plate 13 by inserting one of the fastening screws l4 through a slot 2| in the upper portion of the plate, thereby adjusting the lower angular foot piece l9 to engage the floor or other surface below the head board.

It is also desirable at times to adjust the height of each bed with respect to the head board to take care of floor variations, the thickness of carpets or the like, and for this variation the plate I5 which is attached to the end of the bed is adjustably engaged between one or more attaching devices comprising a plate 22 secured at one end to the bed end by a screw 23 which also extends through one end of an outer plate 24, the plate 15 being confined between the plates 22 and 24 and held adjustably therein by means of an attaching bolt or screw which extends through the upper ends of the plates 22 and 24 into the bed end, adjustably clamping the plate l5 therebetween. Thus by loosening one of the screws 23 or 25 the plate l5 may be shifted up or down in the clamp thus formed, holding the plate tightly in place at the end of the bed. Or

' the plate 24 may be a clip fastened only at the bottom directly to the bed and open at the top, with the plate l5 inserted and self-adjusting as to height therein.

This construction makes possible a twin bed structure for substantially a single bed space, it utilizes a single head board and makes a heater, more compact appearance; a single head board only is necessary for both beds, and a novel twin bed structure is provided in which the beds are capable of movement apart and together, but maintaining them always in parallel position; and ample provision is made for additionally supporting the head board and for providing the support of the head board and beds at different elevations. The beds may be easily and quickly removed from the head board for moving or shifting them or for any other desired purposes.

When the plates I3 and I5 and the connecting links l6 are of equal length the hinges will abut and offset the connected end of the bed from the head board as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, but by making the links l5 of different length than the plates l3 and I5 the hinged projections will not coincide and the links will more flatly abut the head board and the bed end in either limiting position.

At the bottom of the angle plate the foot piece [9 may be provided with any kind of a frictional contact piece, preferably a resilient shoe 26 slipped over the end IE1 or attached to the bottom surface thereof, formed of rubber or other suitable material. This shoe prevents objectionable wearing of the carpet, floor, or any other surface upon which the bed is supported, and it adds frictional resistance to the movement of the head board when the beds are swung outwardly or moved relatively thereto.

Although used with a wooden head board, it is also intended that a construction of this kind may be made with metal beds and metal head boards, and also that the plates l3 may be directly attached to a fixed wall plate or connected directly to the wall and the beds being moved therefrom accordingly.

It will also be noted that the head board may be slightly wider or narrower than the width of the two beds when placed together, still using the same pivoting and hinging connector, but

it is preferable to have the head board of a length equal to the width of the two beds when placed together.

In operating and using the beds it is obvious that either one or both of the beds may be moved outwardly from their central position, the distance apart when both are moved being twice that when only one bed is moved with respect to the head board. When desired the beds are simply moved together in their central position and may be used as a double bed in that position if desired.

I claim:

1. In an adjustable bed structure, the combination with a pair of individual beds each having a frame separately supported by legs from a floor or other plain supporting surface, of a common headboard for both beds of a length substantially equal to the width of both beds placed parallel and close together, and a hinging link connection between the head end of each frame and the headboard for swinging each bed on the headboard and away from but parallel to the other and projecting laterally beyond the end of the headboard, to provide a space between the beds open and freely accessible to a person from the end opposite the headboard, and the headboard being supported in upright position by its connection with the beds.

2. A structure in accordance with claim 1 in which the hinging connection includes opposite link connected plates for attachment to the headboard and frame, one plate having a fixed attachment and an adjustable clamping means for variably engaging the other, whereby the bed frames are separately adjustable in height with respect to each other and to the headboard so the headboard may be held upright on an uneven floor.

3. In an adjustable bed structure, the combination with a pair of individual beds each having a separate floor supported frame, of a common head board for both beds of a length substantially equal to the width of both beds placed parallel and close together, means connecting each frame to the head board for supporting the latter in upright position, said means comprising a hinging connection between the head end of one frame and the head board for swinging that bed with respect to the head board and away from but parallel to the other bed and projecting laterally beyond the end of the head board, to provide a space between the beds open and freely accessible to a person from the end opposite the head board.

4. In an adjustable bed structure, the combination with a pair of individual beds each having a separate floor supported frame, of a common head board for both beds of a length substantially equal to the width of both beds placed parallel and close together, means connecting each frame to the head board for supporting the latter in upright position, said means comprising a shiftable connection between the head end of one frame and the head board for shifting that bed with respect to the head board and away from but parallel to the other bed and projecting laterally beyond the end of the head board, to provide a space between the beds open and freely accessible to a person from the end opposite the head board.

JOSEPH R. THOMAS. 

